Firefly

The poison pearl, along with the fat silkworm before it, had rarely found much practical use due to its single function. Once he gained the ability to control poison, things would be entirely different. Then there was the Heaven-Severing Soul-Shaking Divine Needle obtained from the scar-faced man. The divine needle's terrifying power remained fresh in Qin Sang's memory; if he could refine it using the venom from the poison pearl, it would provide him with yet another lethally potent weapon. At this thought, Qin Sang's heart leaped. He immediately consulted Ghost Mother on how to refine the poison pearl, only to learn that refining the pearl and devouring the Gu King were not tasks that could be accomplished overnight; they could only be pursued slowly and steadily. Next, they conferred and decided to set out as soon as possible to take his true body to Luye to heal, avoiding any unforeseen complications from delay. More importantly, Ghost Mother's preparations were nearly complete, and she was already impatient to depart. The moment Yagu's condition stabilized, she would traverse the void. There was no time to lose. That very night, they resolved to depart. They deliberately skirted the Central Plains and the strongholds of the major sects, seeking out treacherous and rugged terrain to evade unwanted attention. Aside from Qin Sang's injured true body, Ghost Mother, Liuli, and his avatar were all top-tier experts. The hardships and hazards along the way posed no obstacle; they traversed the journey as if walking on level ground, smoothly reaching the borders of Beihuang. Beihuang was vast and sparsely populated, a chaotic melting pot of dragons and fish. Once here, they were largely safe. From this point on, so long as they did not cross paths directly with the Deity Transformation cultivators of the two races, the safety of Qin Sang's true body was virtually assured. Shen Chen had long since moved Luye nearby. Finding the anchor point, they boarded Luye and vanished without a trace. The cultivators of Beihuang had no inkling that an immense colossus was drifting through the skies above them—and judging by its course, it was heading toward the North Sea. Not long after escorting Qin Sang back, Liuli prepared to take her leave. She had parted hurriedly from the nuns of Concealed Moon Nunnery, and had subsequently guarded Qin Sang without being able to contact them. She needed to return as soon as possible to deliver the Wuxiang Immortal Sect's legacy and put their minds at ease. During this time, Liuli made a special point of visiting Yagu, but Yagu had not awakened, so she could only offer her silent blessings. She had already returned the Bingyi Divine Plate to Qin Sang. Her Dao foundation was similar to that of Qin Sang's avatar, yet distinct. The avatar followed Qin Sang's usual approach, gearing everything toward achieving a breakthrough and actively aligning himself with the icy baleful aura within the Bingyi Divine Plate. Liuli, on the other hand, held fast to her own path, unswerving, using it merely as a reference; thus, her comprehension of the icy baleful aura had not taken long. Even so, she had gained immense insight and was eager to return and enter seclusion. "This is a token for Luye. The anchor point on it will not change. In the future, Fairy need only bring this token there, and Luye's grand formation will sense it." Qin Sang's true body had specially emerged from seclusion. Producing a black iron token, he handed it to Liuli and added, "I plan to set up a formation in Luye, emulating the Wuxiang Immortal Sect to nurture the Bingyi Divine Plate and Fire Rhinoceros Pendant, and to forge an immortal terrace in hopes of achieving Deity Transformation. That I was able to bring this formation out of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect is entirely thanks to Fairy's help, and Qin would not presume to enjoy it alone. After you make your breakthrough, Fairy, remember to begin preparations for refining an Ice and Fire Token as well." He had already obtained Old Man Yanshan's memories from Su Zinan. As it turned out, of the two ice boxes Old Man Yanshan had taken from the snowfield tomb all those years ago, one contained the Water Phase Token, while the other recorded the tribulation-transcending grand formation along with part of the Water Phase heritage. From this, Qin Sang had learned the true names of the Bingyi Divine Plate and Fire Rhinoceros Pendant, as well as the refining methods for the Taiji Immortal Terrace and Ice and Fire Token, sparing him the trouble of having to decipher them on his own. Once the storm blew over, it would not be too late to seek out spiritual materials to forge them. As for the Bingyi Divine Plate and Fire Rhinoceros Pendant, so long as a grand formation maintained them and continuously replenished their energy, they could do far more than protect a single person through a tribulation—they could shelter friends, relatives, and descendants, serving as the cornerstone of a sect. The tribulation-transcending immortal formation had no name; the Wuxiang Immortal Sect customarily called it Crossing the Three Disasters. This formation had also been cobbled together by the Wuxiang Immortal Sect using various treasures. Proven through experience, it possessed protective power against the Three Disasters, and surprisingly exhibited a certain degree of efficacy even during the Deity Transformation heavenly tribulation. Naturally, it could also be employed for the Nascent Soul heavenly tribulation. However, because replenishing the two treasures' energy required time, the Ice and Fire Token was strictly single-use, the Taiji Immortal Terrace ran the risk of being destroyed in the heavenly tribulation, and the difficulty of crafting both the token and the terrace was exceptionally high, the Wuxiang Immortal Sect had instituted a rule: disciples were only permitted to activate it when advancing to Deity Transformation. Qin Sang had wondered many times: if Yunyouzi had been protected by this formation when facing his tribulation back then, would the outcome have been different? He watched Liuli depart into the distance. In silence, Qin Sang turned and made his way back to his cave abode. There, he found Ghost Mother leaning against a tree, arms crossed over her chest. Pouting toward the sky, she asked, "Gone?" Qin Sang nodded. Ghost Mother clicked her tongue in mild curiosity. "What an icy beauty. How on earth did a boy like you land her?" Ghost Mother had seen at a glance that something was deeply amiss between Qin Sang and Liuli. It was not that she had detected the evil technique's brand, but rather that before someone as perceptive of worldly affairs as her, their awkward stiffness was simply too glaring. Over this period, Ghost Mother had felt uneasy just watching them. Qin Sang fell silent for a moment before asking, "I have heard there are ways in this world to enter the Dao through the seven emotions. But if those emotions fall into disorder and control the person instead, how can one break free?" With Ghost Mother's intellect, she caught his meaning the instant she heard the first note. Her red lips curled faintly. "Better to channel than to dam." ... Inside the cave abode. Qin Sang pondered for a long time, his thoughts lingering on Liuli and the brand of the evil technique. Just now, he had discussed the matter with Ghost Mother. Even Ghost Mother had no better solution for the evil technique's brand. Qin Sang naturally understood Ghost Mother's reasoning, and he believed Liuli was no less aware of it. Take, for instance, Lord Dongyang's secret art of proving the Dao by slaying one's husband. Using the evil technique's brand to accomplish something might not only resolve the issue, but could even yield benefits. Naturally, Qin Sang would not sacrifice himself in such a manner; he merely drew inspiration from the underlying approach. Yet this was merely wishful thinking on their part. After all, they could not experience what she felt, and they did not know just how profound an impact the evil technique's brand had wrought upon Liuli. What Qin Sang feared was that Liuli's rejection of his goodwill and her deliberate efforts to distance herself were not solely due to her resistance to the brand; she might also have unknowingly developed an inner obstruction in her own heart. Such an inner demon could only be resolved through Liuli's own realization. If Qin Sang meddled rashly, it would only backfire. A soft sigh echoed through the cave abode. Qin Sang set aside these trivial distractions and waved his hand, retrieving all the relics left by the Witch Clan Deity Transformation cultivator and laying them before him. Among the relics, some treasures were usable by both races; since Qin Sang cultivated the Witch Clan's lifebound insect gu arts, he could put them to use. Most, however, bore deep, indelible Witch Clan imprints, which Qin Sang set aside. When he finished organizing them, only the two Star Platforms remained before him. Back at Dishou Mountain, Qin Sang had worried that merging the Star Platforms might provoke anomalies, so he had delayed the attempt until now. Luye had already drifted into the uninhabited wilderness of Beihuang; even if a massive anomaly occurred, there was no cause for concern. Stepping out of the cave abode, Qin Sang laid down formations around the perimeter and set the two Star Platforms flat before him. Extending both hands over the two platforms, he felt the connection between the Star Platforms and the astral bodies. The familiar sensation reminded him of the Heavenly Demon Refining Form, which he had neglected for a long time. Yet he still did not intend to pick the technique back up. Instead, he planned to continue refining the demonic fire and cultivating the Golden Lotus of Fire Seeds; healing his injuries would not impede the tempering of his divine sense. Clack! Bringing his hands together, Qin Sang joined the Star Platforms. To his astonishment, they snapped tightly together at once. From within the seam burst a brilliant astral light as the power of both platforms began to merge of its own accord. There was no need for Qin Sang to do anything at all. The earth-shattering anomaly he had anticipated did not occur. Before long, the astral light dimmed. Qin Sang focused his gaze and saw that the seam between them had vanished completely, seamlessly integrated into a single circular stone platform. A faint shimmer of starlight seemed to linger about the Star Platform, just as before. Pondering for a moment, Qin Sang flickered and sat cross-legged atop the Star Platform. Circulating the Heavenly Demon Refining Form, he felt that the speed at which he absorbed astral power was faster than before, but there were no other changes. Ancestor Black Snake had dispatched a favored disciple to infiltrate a major human sect and steal the Star Platform, and the Witch Clan Deity Transformation cultivator had kept it at his side all the way to Zhongzhou. If the platform were truly this simple, it would hardly warrant such great fuss. Qin Sang had no clues and could not unlock the mysteries of the Star Platform. Until one day, Luye drifted into the North Sea, coming to a halt above an exceedingly ordinary rocky island. This place was situated in the western waters of the North Sea, corresponding to the northwestern corner of all of Zhongzhou. It was remote, desolate, and perpetually buffeted by the storm belt, devoid of human presence—yet it was the ascension site Ghost Mother had chosen. Ghost Mother triggered the ward outside Qin Sang's cave abode, bearing news. She had decided to set up the formation immediately and strive to ascend within a month. Though Qin Sang had prepared himself mentally for such haste, he could not help feeling a pang of melancholy. Welcoming Ghost Mother inside, he brought out the relics of the Witch Clan Deity Transformation cultivator and invited her to take her pick. Though ostensibly offered to Ghost Mother, they were more truly meant to safeguard Yagu. Ghost Mother knew this well and showed no polite restraint. "Not a bad little stash..." Ghost Mother picked and chose, taking several items while sliding a few back to Qin Sang. "You cultivate my clan's lifebound insect gu arts. If you refine them according to my instructions, you can put these to use as well. Take this Dust-Clearing Pearl, for instance: once refined, have your butterfly swallow it. If you control it together, it will be enough to elevate the power of its divine abilities to the next level. And this Azure Spirit Stake—the refining craftsmanship was too crude, which ironically preserved the properties of the spiritual item, the Azure Spirit Ganoderma. If you strip it out, practicing the spirit-feeding method from the Panhu True Scripture will yield twice the result with half the effort..." Ghost Mother did not hold back in her guidance, and Qin Sang committed every word to memory. Having obtained the Panhu True Scripture, Qin Sang had not yet had the opportunity to properly comprehend it before this enlightened teacher was set to ascend. He could only swallow her teachings whole for now and digest them later. Moving forward, elevating the Heavenly Eye Butterfly's realm would also be of paramount importance. Finally, Qin Sang brought out the Star Platform and asked Ghost Mother to examine it. Returning to the Canglang Ocean was unrealistic right now. Though he had obtained the sea chart, frenzied ferocious beasts roamed everywhere throughout the storm belt, posing extreme danger; Qin Sang could not guarantee he would be as lucky as last time. In his hands, the Star Platform could only assist in cultivating the Heavenly Demon Refining Form, and it could no longer draw astral power to flood his body for breakthroughs. Falling far short of its expected value, it was like a priceless pearl gathering dust. If the Star Platform held some benefit for breaking through to Deity Transformation, keeping it hidden away like a cherished broom would be utterly foolish. "This..." Taking the Star Platform, Ghost Mother turned it over repeatedly, her brow furrowing. "Are you certain this belongs to my clan?" Qin Sang was slightly taken aback by her words and explained the origins of the two platforms in detail. Ghost Mother pondered for a while before saying, "My clan has no shortage of divine abilities and treasures connected to astral power, but in this palace master's memories, there is nothing with fluctuations resembling this Star Platform. Of course, not only is my cultivation sealed, but my memories are also far too fragmented; perhaps this portion of my memory was erased. It seems there are different clans within the Upper Realm's Witch Clan, each with distinct legacies. It is difficult to say which clan's treasure this might be; that depends on the bloodline lineage of the main branch of the Witch Clan in the Canglang Ocean. However, in this palace master's view, two other possibilities are most likely... "First, this treasure has nothing to do with my clan. I recall you saying that the Witch Clan's legacy in the Canglang Ocean was incomplete and they were forced to cultivate human techniques—perhaps they were all outsiders. Second, this treasure remains incomplete, missing a key component, which is why neither of us can trigger the restrictions within." With that, Ghost Mother tossed the Star Platform back to Qin Sang. Aside from traversing the void, nothing else could pique her interest. Catching the Star Platform, Qin Sang fell into deep thought. It seemed unraveling this mystery would have to wait until he returned to the Canglang Ocean. ... One month later. The rocky island. Qin Sang and Ghost Mother stood side by side, gazing upon a pool of spring water before them with solemn expressions. The avatar was patrolling the surroundings with the Dark Moon Guard, while Shen Chen had been ordered to move Luye far into the distance. A bamboo bed floated upon the spring water. Dressed in ceremonial finery, Yagu lay peacefully on the bed with a tranquil expression, her hands folded over her chest, still deep in slumber. A faint phantom appeared at her glabella. The fat silkworm wriggled its fleshy body, seemingly bidding farewell to Qin Sang. Over this past month, Ghost Mother had put it through so much torment that it had visibly slimmed down by a full ring. The spring water was calm and rippleless. Earth had been heaped on all sides to form an altar, upon which a grand formation was laid out. Everything was prepared. "Let us begin," Ghost Mother murmured softly. Qin Sang let out a slow breath, took one last deep look at Yagu, and slowly stepped back. Ghost Mother stepped onto the sacrificial altar and looked up at the firmament. It was late at night. There was no moon this evening, only a vast river of stars stretching across the sky. Midnight arrived. Withdrawing her gaze, Ghost Mother nodded to Qin Sang, and suddenly flung up her arms. There was no sound, yet Qin Sang's heart gave a heavy thud, drawn into an inexplicable rhythm. A sacrificial dance! Ghost Mother raised her hands high, her body swaying as though seeking to embrace the vault of heaven. After a brief pause, she erupted into a dance of even greater vigor. Beneath the veil of night, Ghost Mother's figure moved like a serpent. Every gesture carried an extraordinary rhythm, harmonizing seamlessly with heaven, earth, and nature itself. Qin Sang unconsciously held his breath, nearly losing himself in the spectacle. Suddenly, the rumble of wind and thunder broke through. Looking up, he saw that at some point, billowing clouds had gathered in the sky. Lightning serpents raced across the heavens, and soon, a drizzle of rain began to fall. Heaven and earth were responding in unison to Ghost Mother's sacrificial dance! Rumble... Thunder shook the heavens. Yet the spring water did not stir with the slightest ripple. The sacrificial altar radiated a strange brilliance that continuously gathered toward the bamboo bed, growing increasingly dazzling, as though all the light between heaven and earth were shining upon Yagu! Ghost Mother completed her final dance movement and brought her foot down hard upon the altar. Boom! The altar, the rocky island, and even the surrounding sea shuddered violently as heaven and earth answered with a crack of thunder. Qin Sang snapped his head up, astonished to discover that the starry river itself seemed to tremble for an instant, the stars flaring with a momentary brilliance. In the next breath, Ghost Mother's body stiffened abruptly. A streak of flowing light shot from her glabella and flashed into Yagu's body. Qin Sang knew the most critical moment had arrived. Holding his breath, he watched the light at the center of the altar grow increasingly blinding. The bamboo bed itself turned gradually transparent, fading into nothingness bit by bit. When the radiance reached its utmost peak— Yagu and the bamboo bed vanished without warning. "When we meet next time, remember to call her by her true name." Ghost Mother's voice echoed beside Qin Sang's ear, ethereal and faint, like a soft sigh. Staring fixedly at the center of the altar, Qin Sang suddenly glimpsed a speck of luminous light. Like a drifting firefly, it flew above his head and circled there, lingering, reluctant to depart. Looking upward, Qin Sang suddenly felt a touch of coolness on his cheek. Touching it with his finger, he found what seemed to be a trace of moisture, and his heart tightened instantly. In the next moment, the luminous speck suddenly soared high into the sky. Fast as lightning, its speed erupted to an extreme that defied description. In but a daze, the speck of light shot into the firmament, blending into the myriad stars, and vanished in an instant.